Springerle

Kirsten Strecker

41

Bavarian cookies called Springerle are known for their distinctive flavor. The dough is rolled onto a floured surface, imprinted with clean, floured rubber stamps, dried overnight, and then baked. Use a skewer to press a small hole into the cookie before baking. Note: You'll find many different colors of luster dust at countrykitchensa.com. We also found a fun assortment of alphabet and holiday-inspired stamps from Stampin' Up! (visit stampinup.com). Reserve never-before-used stamps for these cookies.

Ingredients

3¾ c. all-purpose flour

¼ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. baking powder

4 large eggs

1¾ c. sugar

1 tsp. Lemon Extract

1 tsp. anise seed

Luster dust

Directions

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine 3 1/4 cups flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl, and set aside. Beat the eggs and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer set on high speed until pale and doubled in volume -- about 3 minutes. Add extract and beat to combine. Stir in the flour mixture, and anise seeds, if desired.

Sprinkle up to 1/2 cup flour on a clean work surface. Transfer the dough to the surface and knead in the flour until dough is soft and smooth. Form a rough ball, divide the dough in half, and wrap in plastic to prevent drying. Roll out the remaining dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Lightly dust your choice of rubber stamps or springerle pin with flour to prevent sticking. Press the stamps or roll the pin to imprint the dough and use a cutter to cut out pieces.

Using a spatula, transfer the pieces to the prepared baking sheets and let sit uncovered 10 to 12 hours. Heat oven to 300 degrees F. Bake the cookies, 1 sheet at a time, on the center rack of the oven until almost firm and not colored -- 25 to 30 minutes.

Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Lightly dampen luster dust with lemon extract in a small dish, until a thick paste forms. Paint the cooled cookies with a light dabbing motion, using a small paintbrush. Allow the "paint" about 5 to 10 minutes to dry completely. Store Springerle in an airtight container.